Climate Change Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 168C: 168C: Schedule 2, page 48, line 40, leave out ““51 weeks”” and insert ““6 months”” The noble Earl said: This amendment seeks to make the maximum term for an offence six months and not 51 weeks. This is the first time of which I am aware that the Government have proposed a greater offence for offending in England. I wonder whether there is anyone who concurs that the punishment meted out by an English court should exceed that of a Scottish or Northern Irish one. The scale of punishment in England is twice the length of the other two jurisdictions. There is also the question of the lower maximum in Northern Ireland for an offence triable either summarily or on indictment—it is six months for Northern Ireland and 12 months for England, Wales and Scotland. Is there an overriding reason for this distinction? I beg to move.